Experts caution against taking medical advice from influencers

Thursday, 4 December 2025 10:54

Kim Kardashian has previously shared medical advice with no proven benefits.

Experts have called for greater governance on potentially misleading medical advice shared by influencers on social media.

Whilst over 40 per cent of young adults in the USA take advice from influencers, a report in The BMJ claims people are at risk of getting incorrect or biased information on important medical issues.

For example, Kim Kardashian encouraged her 360 million followers to have a full-body screening with magnetic resonance imaging.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 25: Reality television star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian attends a roundtable discussion on criminal justice reform hosted by Vice President Kamala Harris in the Roosevelt Room at the White House on April 25, 2024 in Washington, DC. The meeting included four of the sixteen people who had been convicted of non-violent drug offenses in the past and received clemency from President Joe Biden earlier this week. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

While scans can have a benefit for people at a high-risk of certain conditions it is also linked to overdiagnosis and unnecessary medical interventions.

The fourth overlapping biases, according to the authors, include "limited expertise, industry influence, entrepreneurial interests, and personal belief.

"Such advice can cause psychological, physical, financial, and systemic harm," the report continued.

The report says influencers create a tight bond and relationship with their followers, with the sharing of real-life experiences helping foster a connection.

They can also help break stigmas surrounding certain medical conditions.

Lily Mae, also known as @chronicallylil on Instagram, documents her journey in navigating multiple medical conditions.

However, the report argues more government oversight is required to ensure influencers do not mislead their followers or promote unethical practices.

Australia already has some laws and regulations in place, banning paid health testimonials.

Some influencers believe medical experts should work more closely with them, believing they can bridge a key gap.

"I wish healthcare professionals would listen and engage more with patient communities online," Lily Mae, whose Instagram account @chronicallylil shows her struggles with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, endometriosis, and vascular compression syndrome.

"There's such a wealth of firsthand knowledge being shared—real stories, symptoms, and lived experiences that could help improve care if more providers took the time to understand them."

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